China

Use of Australian military forces

In 2022, 79% were in favour of using Australian military forces to stop a government from committing genocide and killing large numbers of its own people.

Question

There has been some discussion about the circumstances that might justify using Australian military forces in other parts of the world. Please give your opinion about the following situations. Would you personally be in favour or against the use of Australian military forces:

This question was last asked in 2022.

  1. 80%
  2. 60%
  3. 40%
  4. 20%
  5. 0%
  6. 20%
  7. 40%
  8. 60%
  9. 80%
  10. 100%
To stop a government from committing genocide and killing large numbers of its own people
2019
2022
19
80
19
79
To restore law and order in a Pacific nation
2019
2022
21
77
23
75
To conduct freedom of navigation naval operations in the South China Sea and other disputed areas claimed by China
2019
2022
36
60
38
60
If China invaded Taiwan and the United States decided to intervene
2019
2022
54
43
47
51
To fight against violent extremist groups in the Middle East
2022
57
41
If Russia invaded one of its neighbours
2022
58
40

In 2017, the question asked ‘In response to China’s increasing military activities in the South China Sea, the United States has been conducting military operations designed to ensure freedom of navigation in the region. Are you personally in favour or against Australia conducting similar operations in an effort to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea?’ In 2017 and 2019, the question asked ‘To fight against violent extremist groups in Iraq and Syria’.

  • Against
  • In favour
Total
All groups

Observation

As Australians increasingly express concern about a potential conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan, a slim majority of Australians (51%) would favour using the Australian military ‘if China invaded Taiwan and the United States decided to intervene’. This marks an eight-point increase since the question was last asked in 2019.

Four in ten Australians (40%) say Australia should deploy its military ‘if Russia invaded one of its neighbours’. This is nine points higher than in 2017. Eight in ten (79%) support using the military ‘to stop a government from committing genocide and killing large numbers of its own people’.

Three-quarters of Australians (75%) support using Australia’s military ‘to restore law and order in a Pacific nation’.

As in previous years, the majority of Australians (60%) support the Australian military being used ‘to conduct freedom of navigation naval operations in the South China Sea and other disputed areas claimed by China’.

However, the willingness of Australians to support deployment of the military to the Middle East has declined in recent years. Four in ten Australians (41%) say the Australian military should be used ‘to fight against violent extremist groups in the Middle East’, a nine-point decline from 2019 and 20 points lower than the level of support in 2017.

Data

Compare different demographics, years, categories, and responses.

Demographic

Year

Category

Response

Related tags
Terrorism Military Government spending Alliances Human rights Taiwan South China Sea Extremism Islamic State Iraq  and

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